This is a subscriber-only article
At a recent LacPatrick calf health and management event on Dermot Sherry’s farm in Co Monaghan, the focus was on the early management of the calf with discussions on calf nutrition and reducing disease pressure in calf houses among other topics.
The key message on the day was to try to minimise the disease pressure that is on calves and maximise their immune response with the help of a comprehensive vaccination protocol. An area that was of interest to farmers on the day was the issue of ventilation in calf houses.
Those in attendance got a tour of a new calf shed on the farm which is nearing completion.
The shed was constructed in accordance with TAMS II specifications with adequate airflow of the utmost importance to Dermot to help reduce the disease pressure on calves.
The shed
The shed is divided into three different sections with six large dry pens running along one side of the shed. The other side of the shed is made up of three slatted pens, a storage area and two pens which are fitted with individual calf pens.
The internal length of the shed is 28.6m while the internal width is 12.3m. At its apex, the shed stands at 6.2m high.
Calves will move from the individual pens once they are able to drink milk from a bucket and into the group pens. Once calves are weaned they will then move to the slatted pens.
Pens
While group pens have the capacity to hold eight calves, Dermot operates a lower stocking rate with only six calves per pen. This is done to reduce the disease pressure on calves.
Group pens measure 4.4m by 4.8m. Pens are sloped slightly towards the 3.5m wide centre passage of the shed with a channel running along the front of the pens to collect runoff. This is then piped to the slatted tank in the shed.
Each group pen can be accessed via a door at the back of the pen. The aim is to allow calves out to a small paddock beside the shed when weather improves.
The back two thirds of the group pens were initially covered in woodchip, with straw bedding then added. This allows moisture to seep down to the floor and run off into the channel, helping to keep the bedding dry.
As the majority of bull calves are sold off-farm at a young age, the shed provides ample accommodation for calves from Dermot’s current herd of 140 cows.
One issue that he encountered when deciding on the design of his shed was the difficulty in finding other calf sheds to visit and get ideas from.
“One thing that I did see on a farm in Meath was the feeding barriers which I thought were a great design so I decided to get the same ones made,” said Dermot. This was also influenced by the decision to bucket feed calves as opposed to using teat feeders.
“Now I can lock all the calves into the feed barrier while they drink. This means that I don’t have to worry about slow drinkers being bullied away by stronger calves. It is also a great way to see if a calf is off form as you know exactly which calf has drank and how much,” according to Dermot.
Movement
There are a total of 21 individual calf pens in place in the shed. In order to create a barrier between this area and the rest of the shed, a short block wall was constructed along the feeding passage.
A taller wall with a sliding door is also in place between the individual pens and the storage area. Calves will stay here until they are trained to drink out of a bucket. Again channels run along the pens in a bid to keep the area dry.
Adjacent to the isolation pens is a storage bay where a sink and water heater are in place. Having hot water close to hand is very useful for cleaning equipment, according to Dermot.
Unfinished
The slatted area has not yet been fully completed with barriers still to be fitted. The farmer was under pressure to get the group pens completed on time so these took priority. Calves will be weaned at approximately eight weeks of age so barriers will be hung before this.
In total, there will be three slatted pens with a 2.4m-deep slatted tank in place. Eighteen calf cubicles are also in place on top of the slats along the back wall of the shed. Access to this shed is not an issue with a total of 12 different doors into the shed. This includes two sliding doors at either end while a large sliding door is also in place along the side of the shed.
Inlet ventilation in the shed is provided through a combination of vented sheeting and the side cladding being angled outwards to form a gap between the bottom of the sheet and the wall.
Outlet ventilation is provided via an opening along the full length of the apex of the shed with a ridge cap in place over it. Ensuring adequate ventilation was a point that was repeatedly stressed by farm development adviser with LacPatrick, Majella McCafferty.
“Good airflow will help to remove moisture and bacteria from the calves’ environment which will in turn reduce the disease pressure on calves,” according to Majella.
Cost
The shed was completed to TAMS II specifications at a total cost of approximately €75,000, according to Dermot (pictured with his father Owen). The majority of the project was completed by Seamus Fitzpatrick Limited with Condon Engineering supplying the penning. The feeding barriers of the group pens will be galvanised after the busy spring period has passed. Dermot will qualify for a 40% grant through TAMS, which equates to €30,000 grant aid. This leaves the final cost of the project at approximately €45,000. Adequate ventilation is vital in calf sheds and even if the work is not carried out through TAMS it is still recommended to follow the Department specifications.
SHARING OPTIONS: